St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-10-29
PRESIDENTIAL TRIPS.
Slow Travelling in the Early History
of the Country.
TCODUTiybtpu. 1851

OF the country.
copyrighted, 1ss7l
Commencing with Washington himself
it has been presidential custom to make
long excursions around the country. The
earlier Presidents thought it their duty to
make what they called ''tours of inspec-
tion," by which they made themselves
acquainted with the various sections of
the country. When Washington set out
for Mount Vernon, in 1899, to assume the
duties of President, he journeyed in his
own carriage He himself has described
his outfit. He says: "My equipage and
attendants consisted of a chariot and
four horses, drove in hand, light bag
gage wagon and two horses, four saddle
horses, beside led one for myself and
five persons-my valet de chambre, two
footmen, a coachman and postillion."
Washington made two extended tours
through the country. AS soon as Con-
gress adjourned, in the first year of his
presidency, he decided to visit New Eng
land. He set out early in the morning
of Thursday, the 4th of October, in his
own carriage drawn by four horses, &C
companied by Major Jackson, his aid-de-
camp and Tobias Lear, his private sec
rotary, with six servants. For ten miles
out Chief Justice Jay, General Knox and
Alexander Hamilton rode in his carriage
with him. He visited Boston and other
towns and continued his travels eastward
as far as Portsmouth, n. Fl.
In this journey he studiously avoided
Rhode Island, which at that time was not
State in the Union.
On the 21st of March, 1871, Washing
ton left Philadelphia, which had in the
interval become the capital of the coun-
try, for a tour through the Southern
States. AS usual, he rode in his own car
riage, with horse led for himself, so that
when he became wearied riding in his
coach he might rest himself by riding
horseback.
He spent week at Mt. Vernon attend
ing to affairs on his farm. On the 7th of
April he resumed his tour. Major Jack
son accompanied him and their outfit
included every comfort possible for such
a long journey. The generals baggage
wagon carried an abundant supply of
food and the best wines and liquors, so
that in case of inadequate entertainment
they might not be entirely without the
ordinary comforts of life. The Presi-
dent planned his trip very carefully, and
before he left Mt. Vernon wrote to
his cabinet ministers detailing pre-
cisely where he would be at certain times
on the route, and desiring them, in case
of anything important happening, to
communicate with him, so that if neces-
sary he could return at once to Philadel-
phia. 1t resulted that no was fortunate
enough to make the journey exactly as
he planned, arriving at the various places
on the days indicated. He went as far as
Augusta, Ga, visiting all the principal
Southern cities.
The President reached home on the
18th of June, having travelled 1,70O miles
in sixty-six days with the same outfit of
horses.
John Adams made no journeys about
the country more than was necessary to
go back and forth from Quincy to the
capital He was the first President to
make his home in Washington.
Jefferson had, while Secretary of State,
made an extended tour up the Hudson
and Lake George with James Madison. |
They sailed up the Hudson in sloops and
then took horses. riding sixty miles !
through the primeval wilderness, taking !
taste of Saratoga water on the way. !
They crossed Lake Champlain, had
view of the White Mountains, spent Sun
day in Bennington, the laws of the State |
not permitting them to travel on that day. |
and crossing to Brattleboro', they foated !
down the Connecticut and returned to |
New York by way Of the sound, having
made in amonth a journey of one thousand
miles. Jefferson was a well-traveled |
man, having made the tour of Europe, |
and having seen the best part of the |
United States. He made no extended |
tours while in the White House. His
journeys back and forth to Monticello !
were made sometimes on horseback and |
sometimes in an old-fashioned chaise, |
driven by his faithful servant, Jupiter.
Madison, like Jefferson, had done his
travelling incidentally and made no grand |
presidential tours. He went back and
forth to Montpelier in his own coach. By |
over-study while at college and rigor-
Gus denial of sleep he impaired his health
so that he never enjoyed horseback rid
ing. Being lame, it caused him some dis
comfort. He was the first President to
enjoy the convenience of steam travel
At the conclusion of his second term he
went to his home, by way of Aqua creek,
on steamboat. He also made journey
to Norfolk and Baltimore on the Virginia,
a steam packet described in the news
papers of the day as very large, stanch
and elegantly fitted, and which cost
$4,000. From this time on mail steam
ers were employed on the Potomac, and
steam-ferries piled between Washington
and Alexandria
James Monroe saw the country in a
grand tour, which has nothing to COM
pare with it in early times. He started
on Saturday, the 31st Of May following
his Inauguration.
In New York he lodged at Merchants
Hall, kept by Mr.. Gibson. A grand re-
view and procession was given him in
the city, in which General Winfield /
Scott, General Morton and General Mapes
took part.
He arrived at New Haven at four
o'clock in the evening of Friday, the
Goth. The slow means of communication
in those days is illustrated by the fact
that it was not known in Washington
until the following Wednesday where he